Old Lady Sues Mcdonald's For Hot Coffee
Most of us have heard the story of the old lady who sued McDonald's for hot coffee. The case is often used as an example of frivolous lawsuits, but the truth is much more complicated than that.
The Incident
In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck went through the drive-thru at a McDonald's in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She ordered a cup of coffee and parked the car so she could add cream and sugar. While trying to remove the lid, the entire cup of coffee spilled in her lap.
Liebeck was wearing cotton sweatpants, which absorbed the hot liquid and held it against her skin. She suffered third-degree burns on her thighs, buttocks, and groin area.
The Lawsuit
Liebeck initially asked McDonald's to pay her medical bills, which totaled around $20,000. They offered her $800, which she refused. She then hired a lawyer and sued McDonald's for damages.
The lawsuit claimed that McDonald's coffee was too hot and that they had a duty to warn customers. They also alleged that McDonald's had received over 700 complaints about hot coffee burns in the previous decade but had not taken any action to prevent them.
The Verdict
The case went to trial, and a jury found McDonald's liable for Liebeck's injuries. They awarded her $200,000 in compensatory damages, which was reduced to $160,000 because she was found to be 20% at fault for the accident.
The jury also awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages, which was equal to two days of McDonald's coffee sales. The judge later reduced this amount to $480,000.
The Aftermath
The case received a lot of media attention, and many people criticized Liebeck for being greedy and filing a frivolous lawsuit. However, the truth is that she suffered serious injuries as a result of McDonald's negligence.
The case also led to changes in the way companies approach product liability. McDonald's and other fast food chains now serve coffee at lower temperatures, and cups have warning labels advising customers that the contents are hot.
Conclusion
The old lady who sued McDonald's for hot coffee is not just a punchline to a joke. She was a real person who suffered real injuries. The case was not frivolous, and it led to important changes in the way companies approach product liability.